just wondering

dudeinaroom

I was thinking of trying an audio source amp to power my sda's, just wondering if one of these would be worth while. I'm currently using a POS technics recevier

RuSsMaN

Yes, it would be a worthwhile upgrade.

dudeinaroom

RuSsMaN wrote:

Yes, it would be a worthwhile upgrade.

Thanks for the reply. Was just wondering, because the prices for them seem low

RuSsMaN

True, they offer a great price / performance ratio. Entry level separates, at it's finest.

ohskigod

RuSsMaN wrote:

True, they offer a great price / performance ratio. Entry level separates, at it's finest.

as he said, it should be a very significant increase in performance

adam2434

I run 2 Audiosource Amp Threes monobridged for my LS90s - got refurbs for $160 each. Major improvement over my receiver. When I tried just using one to power both speakers, the improvement was much less. If you can find them cheap, I'd suggest buying one for each channel, if you have large/full range SDAs.

I think the newer replacement model for the Three is the 300.

I'm also curious about the amp from Home Theater Direct (htd.com). They have one for $200 that is 300 watts monobridged. They look a lot like Audiosource amps, so I'm wondering if it could possibly be the same OEM. I might shoot them an e-mail to ask. If they are, I think they could be a real sleeper amp value.

Adam

McLoki

adam2434 wrote:

I run 2 Audiosource Amp Threes monobridged for my LS90s - got refurbs for $160 each. Major improvement over my receiver. When I tried just using one to power both speakers, the improvement was much less. If you can find them cheap, I'd suggest buying one for each channel, if you have large/full range SDAs.

I am sure you have thought of this but it bears repeating. Be careful when running SDA's from a mono (bridged) amp. keep the common ground thing in mind when running from dual mono's....

Michael

adam2434

For anyone curious, I did send an email to HTD and they told me that their A2100 amp was made at a factory that makes products for typical retailers and high end "mom an pop" type shops. They would not confirm or deny any link/similarity to Audiosource amps (after more thought, they remind me of AMC amps too).

They will be sending me more detailed specs and indicated that the unit weights 21 lbs.

If that 300 watt monobridged rating is legit, and they sound decent, 2 of these for $400 seems like a nice high power upgrade over most receivers.

They have a good return policy - somebody ought to try these out. I would if I were in the market for a low budg amp upgrade.

ND13

adam2434 wrote:

(after more thought, they remind me of AMC amps too).

AMC and NAD are made in the same plants from what I've been able to gather.

adam2434

Here are the specs that HTD just e-mailed me on their A2100 amp - not too shabby given that they are full bandwidth, continuous RMS, with low THD.

Continuous RMS Power Output (20 Hz – 20 kHz, Both Channels Driven) 100 watts x 2, 8 Ohm
Continuous RMS Power Output (20 Hz – 20 kHz, Bridged Mono) 300 watts, 8 Ohm
Frequency Response 20 Hz - 50 kHz, +0/-3 dB, 1 watt
Total Harmonic Distortion 0.025% at full rated output
S/N Ratio 114 dB at rated output, IHF A-weighted
106 dB at rated output, unweighted
93 dB at 2.828 V output, IHF A-weighted
84 dB at 2.828 V output, unweighted
Input Impedance 33 k Ohm
Input Sensitivity 1 V in for 28.28 V out
Damping Factor Over 150 at 20 Hz

dudeinaroom

Any body have any thoughts on this one http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=248-749&raid=25&rak=248-749

adam2434

Don't know anything about that particular pro amp, but a lot of folks here do not reccomend pro amps due to their not sounding musical.

Regarding Audiosource amps, ubid.com has Amp300 refurbs for $269 and an a killer deal on Amp OneA refurbs for $69 - this is 80 watt/ch or 200 watt monobridged.

As someone mentioned earlier, the common ground thing can be an issue for SDA's, but I do not understand the specifics of this issue. For reference, I use a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter on my Amp Three's to eliminate ground hum, although I do not know if this would make the SDA situation better or worse.

IF monobridged Amp OneA's would work for you, I would snatch 2 of those up in a heartbeat. Hell, at that price, I may pick one up for my center ch.

Adam

dudeinaroom

adam2434 wrote:

IF monobridged Amp OneA's would work for you, I would snatch 2 of those up in a heartbeat. Hell, at that price, I may pick one up for my center ch.

Adam

I would if i had the money, hoping around tax time.

And the commpn ground thing i belive has to do with each speaker sending a signal from the opposite channel and using the ground from it's channel for the adjacent channels signal. hence you are hooking up the right(sda effect driver(s) that are in the left speaker(s)) to the left channel ground(via the speakers internal electronics (crossover)). Sorry not an expert,but some one correct me if im wrong.

dudeinaroom

adcom gfa 555 coming this way

heiney9

dudeinaroom wrote:

adcom gfa 555 coming this way

Only if you run in mono, otherwise fine. The newer 5xxx series has secondary winding IIRC. If you are purchasing a 5500 or 5800, 5802 check with Adcom or search the archives here.

H9

heiney9

heiney9 wrote:

Only if you run in mono, otherwise fine. The newer 5xxx series has secondary winding IIRC. If you are purchasing a 5500 or 5800, 5802 check with Adcom or search the archives here.

H9

I thought your post read "Adcom Gfa-555 this way" Anyway's congrats you should notice a big difference. Are you going to use your AVR as a pre-amp? Let us know how it turns out.

H9

dudeinaroom

heiney9 wrote:

Are you going to use your AVR as a pre-amp? Let us know how it turns out.
H9

unfortunatel. I am, and it does not have pre outs. I'm going to use the headphone output as my pre-signal. In dd and dts mode it only puts out the front channels(bonus). The adcom is rated full out put with 1.75 or 1.85 volts, my headphone output will put out almost 9 volts, but I never see max volume as their is to much distortion. Distortion kicks in at about -20 dbs on my receiver which is about 1.6 volts and my reference level is - 40dbs so I am cool, under .7 volts at that level.

dudeinaroom

just got to wait for the money to come in.

heiney9

dudeinaroom wrote:

unfortunatel. I am, and it does not have pre outs. I'm going to use the headphone output as my pre-signal. In dd and dts mode it only puts out the front channels(bonus). The adcom is rated full out put with 1.75 or 1.85 volts, my headphone output will put out almost 9 volts, but I never see max volume as their is to much distortion. Distortion kicks in at about -20 dbs on my receiver which is about 1.6 volts and my reference level is - 40dbs so I am cool, under .7 volts at that level.

Wow....I'm not trying to be critical but that is kind of a half-assed way of doing it. I know we all have limited funds and such. Hope it works out for you, certainly not going to be the best situation. Let us know how it turns out, not sure if you'll gain much advantage. You certainly get points for thinking "outside the box"

H9

dudeinaroom

Hey I can always make it work with what I got. Kinda like MacGyver. I know It's not the best idea, but it is what I have for now and since I know what the receiver is putting out into the headphone jack, I know my limitations. I'm Planing on setting my center, and surrounds to -10(the lowest they go) and try to match the adcom to that level if the input gain will go that low, and then fine tune the volume of the rest of the system from there. Now all I need is a pre/pro, A good center and a sub, ah next year. The infinitys will get refoamed this year as they have deterorated(got them for free owner said they were blown work fine just need new surrounds) and their not to far off from my sda's sound wise. I like having 2 way 10" rears. New project after that is building an under couch enclosure for my 12" Bazooka, using the 200 watt amp from my 15" klh sub, yes I know it's junk, but it's what I got, and It's my junk. it's kinda hard to really get good audio when you make less than 17,000/ year, and have a wife that does not work, and 2 kids, but it is all very well worth it. I'm happy and that's what counts. I will never be satisfied with my audio. Eventualy the sda's will get rebuilt crossovers, maybe new tweets(I'm kinda fond of the sl2000's in mine). And go into a two channel rig. The infinitys may then become the mains in the ht setup. any ways back to the sub, I think I might try a pr design, yes I know the difficulty involved but hay, thats part of the fun. Once I figure what the internal volume and the tunning freq. sould be, just have to figure out the mass of air that would be in the port, get a pr thatI know what the mass of it is, and add more mass until it is right.might even go with 2 pr's.

Thanks for the replys all, I love the forums,and I love sound the bug bit me when I was about 8, and that was about 22 years ago, I did not get to experience real sound reproduction until I got my sda's a little over a year ago, so now the sound bug has gone into over drive.

Later,
Dude

dudeinaroom

The glory has arrived and all is now well
will post more later

dudeinaroom

well, I hooked up the adcom, and now the bass is so much tighter, and the soundstage has improved. The bass is also a little heaver at lower volumes(bonus). the treble is more detailed and "airy" it floats across the room instead of being pushed. Now the big leap and not related to the amp. I just bought a sony dvd/sacd player, and a boston sacd to start things off with. All I have to say is how could I have been missing this for this long. I'm now there when listening. Treble is so much more detailed than I could imagine, and all is ALOT more life like. Can some one recomend any sacd, I mainly listen to rock these days(60's - present)